Following the Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, INDYCAR officials announced six different penalties against drivers and crews for their actions during the event.
Ryan Hunter-Reay was penalized three points in the driver’s points standings and put on probation for three races for violating Rule 9.3.3, which relates to avoidable contact. The infraction took place in the final wreck of the event, when Hunter-Reay made contact with Simon Pagenaud.
Coming off turn three, the pair would end up running three-wide with Sebastien Bourdais. Hunter-Reay, looking to give Bourdais room to his left, moved to the right. However, when he did that, he crossed into the path of Pagenaud. The result would be Pagenaud going off of the racing surface, and going through the grass, before returning to the track in the apex of corner. He would make contact with Bourdais and Hunter-Reay, resulting in Hunter-Reay’s car leaving the ground and the back wheel barely missing Bourdais’ helmet. The three cars then slid into the grass, with Bourdais eventually hitting the tire barrier.
“I’m not sure what Hunter-Reay was thinking there,” Pagenaud said afterwards. “He just drove us off the track and I’m just glad everyone is OK. I want to thank the fans for staying with us this weekend despite the weather. I think the No. 22 Chevy team will be able to come back strong at Long Beach.”
Hunter-Reay rebuttled, though, saying that there was no room for Pagenaud to be out on the outside where he went.
“(Sebastien) Bourdais, is on my left, I don’t know where to go at that point. I’m using my regular racing line – (Pagenaud) stuck his nose out there (and was off the racing line)… And just cleans us all out,” Hunter-Reay said. “I’m happy all three of us are uninjured. (Pagenaud) said I ran him out of room, but there just was no room in the first place. I don’t know what to say to that – it’s certainly a racing incident but there wasn’t a whole lot of room there to begin with. Disappointing way to end the day, we were looking for a strong finish with the DHL Honda.”
Francesco Dracone was fined $10,000 and placed on probation for six races for violating Rule 7.10.1.8, which relates to contact with team personnel.
Dracone would make contact with Helio Castroneves, resulting in spin in turn one at lap 20. He would then make his way down pit road, spinning around on pit lane and knocking one of his crew members down. Todd Philips, the crew member that was knocked, would receive stitches in his lower right leg at the track medical center before being released.
The other four penalties are listed below as per the press release issued by INDYCAR.
• INDYCAR officials fined driver Marco Andretti of Andretti Autosport $500 for violating Rule 1.6.5.1.1 (competition meeting: drivers told they would be fined for not keeping helmet visor down during pit stop).
• INDYCAR officials fined crew member of Dale Coyne Racing $500 for violating Rule 1.2.7.2(f) (fueling without visor down).
• INDYCAR officials fined crew member of Andretti Autosport $500 for violating Rule 7.9.6 (failure to attend tire during pit stop) and Rule 7.9.11 (equipment must remain in assigned pit).
• INDYCAR officials fined crew member of KVSH Racing $500 for violating Rule 1.2.7.2(g) (over the wall without a helmet).
